Dedications F. D. Maurice in 1856 dedicated to him by Maurice and Baldwin his Medieval Philosophy'; and J. Baldwin Brown. The Clarendon Press. Thomas Combe. Brown's dedication of his 'Home. Life in the Light of the Divine Idea' (1866) is as follows: "To A. J. Scott, A.M., the wisest teacher of the truth, as the truth is in Jesus, whom I have ever known, I, with loving gratitude, inscribe these." Mr. Thomas Combe, who had been for about thirty-five years the manager of the Clarendon Press, died very suddenly on the 30th of October, 1872. On the same day he had been walking through Oxford, and had exchanged many a kindly greeting with friends as he passed along. He was in his seventy-seventh year. The Clarendon Press was at the time of his appointment a considerable expense to the University; but under the new director all its operations were extended, and it became a source of revenue. About 1854 Mr. Combe took a mill at Wolvercott in his own name and at his own risk. After long and patient supervision, he succeeded in overcoming all difficulties, and in making the establishment profitable. The mill was subsequently purchased by the University, and is still carried on by it. The Athenæum of the 9th of November says: "Out of no excessive means he [Mr. Combe] found funds to build a graceful chapel to the Oxford Infirmary for the use of the convalescent inmates. He built also a large church, St. Barnabas, in the poorer quarter of Oxford, which, like the previous edifice, was designed by Mr. Bloomfield. In the same city he erected one school-house, and paid half the cost of another : and to all works of charity he was a liberal contributor...... The honorary degree of M.A. was conferred on him by the University, in recognition of his valuable business services to her."* At the time of Mr. Combe's death the late Mr. Edward Bensley Gardner was manager of the Bible and Prayer Book business at 7, Paternoster Row, and of the binding business at Garter Court, Barbican; and Messrs. Macmillan & Co. were publishers to the University and issued all the classical and learned books. Mr. Gardner retired from the management of the * Mr. Combe was succeeded in the practical management of the Press by the late Mr. E. Pickard Hall, a son of Mr. John Vine Hall, compiler of 'The Sinner's Friend,' / which has had a circulation exceeding three million copies; one of his brothers is the Rev. Newman Hall. Mr. E. P. Hall was succeeded in 1883 by Mr. Horace Hart. In the financial control Mr. Combe was succeeded by the Rev. Prof. Bartholomew Price, who was also secretary to the Delegates. Prof. Price resigned the secretaryship in June, 1885, but still (September, 1887) retains the financial control. The paper mill remained under the management of the late Mr. John Henry Stacy, who died at his post on December 18th, 1883, and was succeeded by Mr. Joseph Castle, jun. E. Bensley London departments in 1873, when he was succeeded by the present manager, Mr. Henry H. Frowde. Frowde, to whom also in June, 1880, the publication of the classical and learned books was transferred. First book with the Oxford imprint. The first book which has been discovered bearing an Oxford imprint bears date A.D. 1481. Not till a century afterwards is there any certain indication of the practice of the art there, with the exception of two or three books in the Bodleian Library purporting to have been printed by one "John Scolar," in 1518–20. But in 1585 one Joseph Barnes, aided by a loan of 100l. from the University chest, set up a press, and on the title-page of his first book styles himself "Printer to the University." In the next year "Delegates of the Press " were appointed by Convocation "to watch. over the interests of the University, and control the Press." In 1699 the business of the Press was removed to the Sheldonian Theatre, and in 1713 to the Clarendon Buildings, in Broad Street, expressly erected for the purpose, partly Clarendon's out of funds derived from the sale of Clarendon's 'History of the Rebellion.'' History of the Rebellion'; and in 1830 it was finally removed to the present building. This building has two wings, each 300 feet in length; one of which is devoted to the printing of Bibles and Prayer Books, and is called the Bible Press, the other to educational, classical, scientific, Oriental, and miscellaneous works, and is called the Learned Press. The Press, which possesses appliances for printing in 150 languages, makes its own paper,* inks, types, stereotype and electrotype plates, and maintains a complete engineering establishment for repairing its machinery, employing in all about 600 hands. In addition to these Mr. Frowde employs 300 in the London establishments. New Testa On the 17th of May, 1881, the Revised New The Revised Testament was published, and by the close of ment. the day Mr. Frowde had sold over a million "Oxford" copies.+ The Revised Bible, com- The Revised pleted after fifteen years' labour, was published on May 19th, 1886. The Revisers gave their services gratuitously. The Universities of *The Oxford Bible paper is a speciality, made entirely from rag, principally old sail cloth. The thinnest paper that can possibly be made opaque is the desideratum. + The Revised New Testament was published in New York on the 20th of May, and the proprietors of the Chicago Times arranged to have the whole telegraphed to Chicago. After the four Gospels had been telegraphed, a copy of the work was received, and from this the rest was printed, and the entire Testament appeared in the Chicago Times of the 22nd of May. In telegraphing it was forgotten to give instructions as to the arrangement of the paragraphs, and the four Gospels are printed with the verse divisions. Bible. The Authorized Version. Oxford and Cambridge jointly contributed 20,000l. towards the expenses of the two companies, and also found the capital for the subsequent expenses. The setting up of the work in type was divided, Cambridge taking two editions and Oxford two, and the Parallel Bible being divided between them. Notwithstanding the very large sale of the Revised Version, that of the Authorized Version has not decreased. The Authorized Version can only be legally printed in England by the Queen's Printer, the University Press of Oxford, and the University Press of Cambridge. Up to 1859 this privilege was enjoyed as a right which could only be taken away by an Act of Parliament, but in that year an inquiry was held, and resulted in the privilege being continued to the Presses for the benefit of the public during Her Majesty's pleasure only. The Clarendon Press is issuing more learned and classical books than at any previous period. The great English dictionary, which was projected in 1857 under the auspices of the Philological Society, is in course of publication, and the Athenæum The New on the 9th of February, 1884, in its first reEnglish view of Part I., states that the work "has now Dictionary,' edited by entered upon its final phase, through which Dr. Murray. every one will cordially wish it good speed. |